Canadian politicians, celebrities congratulate Biden for his win
OTTAWA— The U.S. may be polarized, but Canada’s political class was very much united in congratulating President-elect Joe Biden for defeating President Donald Trump.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wasted no time in congratulating Biden after major U.S. media outlets called the drawn-out presidential election in the Democrat’s favour Saturday.
“On behalf of the Government of Canada, I congratulate Joe Biden and Kamala Harris on their election as the next president and vice-president of the United States of America,” Trudeau said in a statement less than an hour after Biden was projected as the winner.
“I look forward to working with President-elect Biden, Vice-President-elect Harris and their administration, and the United States Congress as we tackle the world’s greatest challenges together.”
The reference to congress was not accidental.
Trudeau’s government was obliged to forge stronger ties with lawmakers in D.C. after Trump threatened to rip up the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and imposed tariffs on Canadian products.
The government’s approach was to make inroads with congress, as well as state governors, in a charm offensive to blunt Trump’s whims.
Biden’s victory likely means that Canada will not have to worry as much about a mercurial president challenging the foundation of the two countries’ relationship — from NATO to NAFTA, national security to trade.
While there are policy differences between Biden and the Trudeau government — chiefly the Keystone XL pipeline — the broader strokes of the new president’s agenda aligns with Ottawa’s priorities: combating climate change, managing COVID-19 and “building back better” after the worst economic crisis in a century.
Canada’s political leaders — federal, provincial and municipal — sent similar messages of congratulations Saturday afternoon.
“Our economies and the livelihoods of many living on both sides of the border depend on one another,” wrote Premier Doug Ford in a statement on Twitter.
“I look forward to continuing building on Ontario’s relationship with the United States. We all do better when we work together.”
“Congratulations to U.S. Presidentelect Joe Biden on his victory,” Mayor John Tory wrote.
“Toronto is committed to working with our U.S. neighbours to strengthen our economies during and after the pandemic.”
Another Toronto celebrity put it a little simpler.
“YOUR VOTE COUNTS!!!!” wrote Kyle Lowry on Twitter.
Cascading around the globe on social media and live news broadcasts, word of the Biden’s victory brought widespread relief .
In Rome, people gathered in a coffee bar broke out in cheers when media outlets delivered the news.
A city official in Berlin said, “After the birth of my son, the election of Joe Biden is by far the best news of this year.”
“We’re looking forward to working with the next U.S. government,” German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas tweeted.